THE key to cracking youth crime is to communicate with young people.
That is the view of Kirklees Youth Offending Service Manager Richard Smith (pictured).
And he says Kirklees Youth Offending Team can meet young offenders' often highly individual needs.
If they turn away from crime now it will save them - and their potential victims - a lot of misery.
It could also save the criminal justice system a fortune.
Mr Smith said: "Today's youngsters have pretty much the same needs that have been around for years.
"The most important thing is that we find a way of communicating with young people and help them find a solution to their problems and offending.
"They have done wrong. Most understand that and understand there will be consequences. We want to try and ensure it doesn't happen again.
"Some youngsters need more support than others. For a small minority the need to protect the public is the priority.
"Mostly, we are concerned with preventing re-offending. But there's lots of work going on with ourselves and other organisations to prevent offending in the first place.
"We could do much more and my view is that the recent merger of council services for children and young people is a move in the right direction.
"It's important we try and solve the problems with these kids before they go on to become adult offenders and are stuck in the revolving door of crime and prison."
He added: "Youth crime has become a political subject over the last few years. The short, sharp, shock solutions may win friends and approval in the popular Press, but do little to solve the problems that youngsters face in 2006.
"Years ago the popular view was that kids would `grow out of it'.
"The problem today is that there is less to grow out of and into.
"The manufacturing industries that would have catered for many of the kids who pass through our doors with criminal records and poor school attainment are no longer there.
"These were important as they helped youngsters to mature, mix with adults with different values and good work ethics and helped them grow up.
"We are trying to achieve a safer Kirklees and better outcomes for young people. I hope after this week that Examiner readers have a better understanding of how we operate and why."
Leah's story
AS 15-year-old Leah is pretty and petite it's impossible to imagine she has a volatile temper and a violent side.
She has attacked her mum countless times and was given a referral order for stealing a mobile phone and thumping the victim's mother.
She accepts her teenage behaviour - including drinking sessions - has been terrible and probably began when her father left home.
She stayed with her grandma to get away from her troubles - but when she returned she slipped back into her old ways and found herself in trouble and eventually in court.
She has responded well to the YOT and has stuck to the referral order.
Part of the problem was that she lived in a cramped one-bedroom flat with her mum.
They hope to move to a two-bedroom council house, so each has her own space.
Leah has a programme tailored to her needs.
Now she's looking to her future and realises any more trouble could seriously jeopardise her hopes of going into a media career.
She said: "I just would not listen to my mum and had no respect for her. Even if she was talking sense I would swear at her and could become violent.
"I was out of control from the age of about 12 and took my anger out on my mum.
"Now I see it differently. I'm getting older and can't keep living the same life."
Jamie's story
JAMIE has not been to school for three years.
But since he's been referred to the YOT the 15-year-old has been improving his reading with a basic skills tutor. He aims to become an apprentice mechanic.
Jamie is on an intensive supervision and surveillance programme, with several members of the YOT staff working closely with him.
He used to get out of bed at 2pm after being up most of the night.
Now he's on an education scheme in Huddersfield called Project Cool, which aims to meet the needs of young people who are struggling with their education.
It also creates opportunities for jobs.
Jamie must be at Project Cool in the town centre for 9am.
It's up to him to get out of bed, get washed and dressed, have breakfast and make the bus in time. He's in no doubt what it's all about.
"It's about keeping out of trouble," he said. "I will. I don't want to get locked up. I've learned to be responsible for myself."
Gary's story
GARY was referred to the YOT by the police, as they could see him heading for more and more trouble.
The 14-year-old had been given a final warning for damaging a car.
It turned out he had been smoking cannabis regularly and was often angry or depressed.
His parents were fed up with his bad attitude and verbal abuse.
They could not think of the last time they had anything positive to say about him.
But they were determined to do all they could to give him a fresh start.
Gary realised this was his last chance before he ended up with a criminal record.
School life was tough and he faced exclusion.
Health specialists at YOT helped him with anger management and relaxation techniques and he stopped smoking cannabis.
This has all led to a massive change in him and home life is now far more relaxed and happy.
Sarah's story
SARAH has a history of attacking people and even though the YOT did a lot of work with her on anger management and self- esteem she ended up in Crown Court for a serious offence.
A general health review revealed that she complained of headaches and "missed time" when she could not remember what had happened to her.
This had been put down to her heavy drinking, but a detailed diary she was asked to keep by the YOT eventually showed all the violence was before she had a period and the lost time turned out to be caused by epilepsy.
She was given medication for the epilepsy, a change of diet to help with the pre-menstrual tension and she has stayed out of trouble since.
She is now planning to go to college.
